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• By Benjamin Hochman

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Stan Kroenke, and I can’t get this Paul Bryant quote out of my head, the ol’ Bear’s drawl dripping upon my cerebrum:

“I ain’t never been nothin’ but a winner.”

That’s the concept that looms: Stan Kroenke doesn’t lose in life, despite all the positive news locally about the NFL possibly choosing the Carson project for Los Angeles. In business, he gets what he wants, because that’s what he wants.

But little has leaked out about LA lately that leads us to believe he’s going to win this.

And that is sure reassuring for many St. Louisans, who have suffered through bad football for a decade, and now fear having even that taken from their lives.

Could Kroenke lose? Or, maybe he doesn’t “lose” as much as San Diego, Oakland, Disney and Carson collaborate to win?

But still, think back to the sentiment of September. To think now, the Rams could actually stay ...

As the powerful Bob McNair, owner of the Texans, told the Houston Chronicle: “St. Louis, they have come up with a proposal that is getting pretty close, in my opinion, to being an attractive proposal. And if they do come up with an attractive proposal, then in my view, my personal opinion, I don’t think the Rams will receive the approval to relocate.

“So that would mean then you’d have two teams, San Diego and Oakland, that would be going into Carson. They have a partnership to build a stadium.”

None of us truly know what fourth-quarter play call Kroenke will make. But as of now, we know that so many of his possible options are smothered. It appears the Chargers and old rival owner Dean Spanos won’t break their bond to the Carson project, and also to the Raiders. So no power coupling there involving the Rams.

And then for Kroenke, there’s the biggest thorn in the history of sides: the galvanization of the riverfront stadium, and the recent news that the NFL will give $100 million more into that investment, and that the St. Louis Board of Aldermen is close to approval (Friday could be a bigger win than Thursday night for the Rams, if that happens).

One floated option is that the league could postpone the whole darn thing for another year, but at least one person I spoke with said that’s not realistic.

Another thought: People often talk about the need for two teams in LA. But with the gossip about Oakland’s ownership and its lack of cash, let’s not overlook the fact that the NFL could choose the Chargers as the lone mover to Carson.

There’s a lot we don’t know. And we surely don’t know what Kroenke is cooking up for his final push toward the big NFL owners meetings on Jan. 12-13.

OK, let’s say he loses. One has to wonder about his commitment to St. Louis if the Carson project is chosen. Will he stick with year-to-year and drag the city through more of this will-he-won’t-he stuff? Or will he commit long-term? And could that commitment, as I’ve suggested before, be in the form of his own stadium in St. Louis?

Control is such a power play. Kroenke famously controls so much — in Denver, there’s the arena, the postgame bar at the arena, the television network and radio signals that air the games. If the Inglewood project happens, he not only would own the stadium, but all the land and projects nearby. Remember, before Disney CEO Bob Iger got involved with the Carson project, it was the Inglewood project that some suggested could be the Disneyland of the NFL.

As for the Carson project, McNair told the Houston Chronicle: “(Iger) has agreed to be their non-executive chairman to shepherd that whole event and introducing those teams back to the LA market, the branding and what have you. And I think he’d probably do a pretty spectacular job.”

But the fear is perpetual uncertainty with the state of the NFL in St. Louis, the idea that we won the battle, but the war, so to speak, continues. For instance, the San Diego market would then be open for a team. And there’s always Toronto. San Antonio is vast, but with McNair and Jerry Jones in the Texas mix, it’s hard to see these two powerful businessmen allowing a team to swipe from their profits. Those guys have never been nothin’ but winners, too.

Now, of course, the Bryant quote isn’t necessarily related to actual on-the-field play. I meant it from a business standpoint. And while Kroenke has won a Super Bowl, Stanley Cup and been to the NBA’s Western Conference finals, his football team is just so bad. Always is. I’m sick of the Rams losing, and I’ve only been back in St. Louis for four months. These guys have been bad since Todd Gurley was in elementary school.

Funny enough, one wonders whether, if the Rams had a better product, it would’ve helped them move, as if the NFL were to say, “If we’re going to move a team to LA, let’s move a team that’s actually good at football.”

Again, LA is a gargantuan market, but it has historically proven not to support even good football, let alone Rams football. But that was a generation ago. Marketing, technology and in-game experiences have changed.

But the one thing that hasn’t is this: winning teams draw fans. And since the Chargers, Raiders and Rams all stink, the winner in this should be the best business plan and the best businessman. That’s why it’s hard to count Kroenke out, but man, he’s never appeared more vulnerable.


Hack:
Appearances, appearances. The big IF is that proposal and BoA vote. IF what has been submitted is what McNair feels is acceptable, the he should take it. If leaves room for interpretation.

Other than that, the writer of this article from StLoo needs to do some fact checking. Notably the reference to Disney again. Oh and suddenly Spanos has the jack to go to Carson alone?
WTF?

Decided to make this its own thread...

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Hochman: Here's hoping that Thursday wasn't goodbye

This stinks. It all stinks. It’s Thursday night inside the Edward Jones Dome, and they’re loud here, they really are, and they’re watching winning football and they’re rattling Jameis Winston’s helmet and they’re really a part of it — St. Louis football — and yet, this could be it.

They showed a kid on the broadcast with a sign that read it was his first NFL game. Of course, it could have been his last, too. In a way, the evening couldn’t have gone better (big crowd, big win), but arguably also couldn’t have gone worse (what a tease this was — wouldn’t the Band-Aid rip be less painful if the Rams just wilted away?).

There are so many swirling emotions, and perhaps it was fitting that, during the course of the evening, the Los Angeles Times reported that the NFL owners are extremely divided over which team, or teams, should move to LA. Every day, it seems, news tidbits tug on us. But all the fans can do is be fans, and it’s been so hard to be one for so long, and yet on Thursday, it was so easy for them, because that show, down there on the turf, sure was great.

Standing in the second quarter in Section 110, you could feel 1999.

I’m telling you, it was cool — the contagious crowd created a tornado as a few ravenous Rams sacked Winston. It didn’t matter that the upper deck was simply speckled with fans. Or that both teams had losing records. It was what this whole danged NFL experience is about.

Maybe they were just trying to squeeze the most out of the night, once more, with feeling.

“I’ve had season tickets since I was 9 years old,” said 29-year-old Scott Crean. “September 10th, 1995, I remember the game against the Saints.”

The Rams opened in St. Louis in Busch Stadium, with the dome opening later that fall. The ticket stub had a picture of this very newspaper, with the headline FINALLY, FOOTBALL!

“And my dad actually took me to the first game here,” Crean said. “I think it was November 12th against the Panthers. I don’t know why I remember that, but I do. It was a very important part of my childhood growing up; I would hate to see them leave, but I guess I understand the business part of it. But I’d really wish (Stan) Kroenke would do more to keep the team here, as much as he did initially to bring them here.”

I didn’t want this to be one of those columns where I just interview a handful of emotional fans. But what I liked about Crean was: his sports life has essentially been the St. Louis Rams’ life. There’s something special about a “sports life,” which basically starts when you have your first great childhood memories. The Rams won that game against the Saints. Fake punt late to seal it. He was hooked. As a kid, he’d go to games with his dad; this night, he’s sitting next to his wife.

“I remember Ricky Proehl’s catch in the corner,” Crean said, pointing to the corner where Proehl made our own “The Catch,” in the NFC title game, sure enough against Tampa Bay. “It’s a shame that it’s come down to this.”

Thursday night felt like the final “Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” on NBC. Remember how that all went down? Conan didn’t do anything wrong, but the star was forced off the show by Jay Leno. On that episode, celebs came on to say goodbye, even though they had no desire to say goodbye — and Conan didn’t want to leave.

But what am I doing here being so negative; maybe they’ll stay. Could happen, right? Maybe the NFL goes with the Carson project? Maybe the NFL comes through, and realizes that St. Louis doesn’t deserve this. Though, it was fascinating to read the reporting Thursday by the Post-Dispatch’s David Hunn, who reported that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a hasty letter to Dave Peacock, claiming that the league has not promised $300 million to the new stadium, and that it was just speculation.

Of course, the big Board of Aldermen vote is Friday, a result that has far more ramifications than the Rams’ score Thursday.

St. Louis has to think bigger, brighter. We can’t just survive the days — we need to attack the days, attack the times. The NFL can help transform a city.

And we saw it back in 1999. We saw some growth. We saw some promise — and imagine then if we knew what we know now about pro stadiums, and how to properly develop the area surrounding the Sunday cathedral?

And on Thursday, we felt 1999. And sure enough, there were some of the heroes from the Greatest Show On Turf, on the turf: Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner and Orlando Pace. They showed highlights of No. 80, and the place unleashed a bone-chilling “BRUUUUUCE!”

Later, the same fans chanted: “Keep! The! Rams! Keep! The! Rams!”

Goodbyes are never easy. Here’s hoping Thursday wasn’t one.

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Hochman: Stadium vote a big win

As I watched Friday’s historic meeting of the Board of Aldermen, suffering through accidental filibusters, personal arguments over petty details and strip-club analogies, I had to wonder: they’re not going to blow this for all of us, are they?

But the BOA indeed approved the financing package for a new NFL stadium, an imperative step. It was St. Louis’ biggest NFL win this season: though, in a way, it was the Rams’ worst loss, in regards to its ownership trying to bolt for Los Angeles.

I think some people are wary about the new stadium because, well, we blew it on the last new stadium. But let’s not forget, with the way stadiums are designed in the modern NFL, and the way stadium regions are grown into entertainment districts, the old Trans World Dome was like a reliable Buick, but this new stadium, which should be kindly referred to as “The Peacock,” is the fanciest new Mercedes that does everything except hover.

Speaking of analogies, it was my pleasure to be introduced to Alderman Sharon Tyus, who made reference, suddenly, startlingly and stupendously, to people “making it rain” at strip clubs, in reference to the sad act of tossing dozens of dollar bills upon a dancer. Well, in efforts to describe Stan Kroenke’s lack of graciousness for the money St. Louis will spend on a new stadium, Tyus said: “We’re like at the strip club, and the stripper is throwing the money back at us!”

She also said, more simply, “We’re willing to put our money out for someone who doesn’t want to be here,” and while that is true in theory, the reality is: this financing package isn’t just about Kroenke; it’s about the NFL in St. Louis. There are so many possibilities with what could happen with Kroenke’s NFL team.

But if St. Louis didn’t pass this stadium financing package, then St. Louis looks just as bad as San Diego and Oakland, the other cities that could lose a team to LA.

This, theoretically, gives St. Louis a boost to either keep the Rams, or soon be home to a different NFL team.

“It’s a very slim chance that this thing will come to fruition. ... This deal stinks,” Alderman Antonio French said of the deal’s hurdles. “There’s still a lot of work that has to be done in the state legislature and the NFL. I think the goal of the task force is to show a good faith effort that will hopefully sway a few votes from NFL owners. … If it sways a couple of votes, closes LA door, then Mr. Kroenke will have to sit back and look at his options.”

So yeah — this deal doesn’t save the NFL in St. Louis, but if it didn’t pass, it might have ended it.

OK, so after two Saturdays of column-eating news — Barry Odom’s hiring and Jason Heyward’s departure — I’m back with my “Ten Hochman,” look at a range of topics in St. Louis sports.

2. Could Matt Holliday play first base? CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported that the Cardinals’ left fielder has been practicing the position in Florida this winter. This could be a game-changer, because it would open up a spot for a free agent outfielder, notably Alex Gordon and his Gold Glove. It’s cool that Holliday is at least looking into this, because it could benefit the Birds and the player’s longevity. Realistically, though, the starting lineup will feature an outfield of Holliday, Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty, with first base either Matt Adams or Brandon Moss, the Best Quote In Baseball.

3. Is Aaron Donald better than JJ Watt this year? I don’t think this is blasphemy. Donald is on a different level. He’s like Forrest Whitaker’s character in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” The Rams’ Donald should be Watt’s favorite player.

Pro Football Focus has staff that watches, re-watches and then rates every player in every game. I e-mailed Mike Alessandrini from the site to get some Donald stats.

“Donald is the No. 1 Player in the NFL right now,” he wrote. “Among interior defenders, he’s No. 1 against the run and No. 1 rushing the passer.”

Wait.

Go back.

No. 1 player? Like, at any position?

“Any and every position. Offense or defense,” he wrote. “He is going to get pretty close to JJ Watt’s all time PFF grade record from a couple of season ago.”

No, not all NFL teams look at PFF as gospel, I need to be clear about this.

But whether it’s numbers or the eye test, Donald is a game-changer at a position that doesn’t always allow a player to do so. Also, check James Laurinaitis’ quote after Thursday’s game:

“I’ll tell you what, If Aaron Donald doesn’t win defensive player of the year this year, I mean, I don’t know what. I don’t know what better case he could make for himself, he plays out of this world.

“I always joke with him that he has natural leverage, because of his height. But you always hear in football – low-man wins. And when you’re that low, and you can bench 400 pounds – you constantly see him putting up 400-plus – and you’ve got the get-off speed? I mean, I’d put him in the top-10 on our team in the first five yards, with how fast he is. You put that all into his pass rush repertoire, it’s unbelievable. And as a mike linebacker, I get to see it all the time. I tell D-tackles, ‘If you backdoor that block, you better make the play!’ And he does, almost every time.”

4. One more from Pro Football Focus: Laurinaitis graded negatively in his eighth-consecutive contest. He only accumulated four tackles on 83 defensive snaps.

5. I’m fired up about a rare afternoon Blues game on Saturday, against Calgary, the city that gave St. Louis Brett Hull and the world Bret “The Hit Man” Hart. Cool Blues stat — St. Louis leads the NHL in third-period goal differential, at plus-17. That is good. Also, goalie Jake Allen is 3-1-0 in his past four home starts, with a 1.01 goals-against average.

6. Because I’m weird, I got excited when Mizzou hired offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, not just because he’s talented, but because that brings him to the same area as Chris Weinke. The two are forever linked (at least in my silly sports mind) because of the 2000 college football season. Then-Florida State quarterback Weinke, the Rams’ quarterbacks coach, beat Oklahoma signal-caller Heupel, now the Mizzou play-caller, in one of the closest Heisman votes ever – 1,628 votes to 1,552 votes. Then, Heupel beat Weinke in the Orange Bowl, giving OU the national title.

As for Weinke, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he’s been a key reason why Case Keenum has been effective the past two games. “Chris is doing a good job with Case and Case is enthusiastic in the way he practices and prepares,” Fisher said. “He’s relaxed and he was making throws on time (against Tampa Bay).”

7. With reports that Odom hired former Mizzou player DeMontie Cross as defensive coordinator, I searched the Post-Dispatch archives for some clues about the guy. I love this 1995 quote in a story by our ol’ pal Vahe Gregorian: “If you sit in here at nighttime and hear somebody screaming or arguing or something like that, it’s him, playing cards,” Mizzou defensive backs coach Jon Hoke said. “We’re playing this softball game the other night, and he’s sliding into second and third base like it’s the World Series. I’m worried the guy’s going to get hurt.

“He can laugh as loud as anybody, but after a loss, I’ve seen him cry like a little baby for an hour after the game. He’s very emotional, and he goes from one extreme to another.”

8. Sylvester Stallone’s black leather jacket from “Rocky” sold Friday at an LA auction for $149,000. This got me thinking — which piece of sports movie memorabilia would I want the most? Jimmy Chitwood’s Hickory jersey (No. 15) from “Hoosiers?” Roy Hobbs’ Wonderboy bat from “The Natural?” Jobu from “Major League?” Bud from “Air Bud — Golden Receiver?”

9. Finally, I’ll finish off with a pair of tweets. The first from St. Louisan Ashley Jost (@ajost): “I am talking with a scheduled blind date who is from STL, but he won’t tell me what high school he went to. I’m skeptical. #STLProblems:

10. And the second tweet from ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner), who made a city simultaneously smirk and cringe with this tweet, in reference to the yellow and red uniforms during the Rams-Bucs game: “If Rams can mustard a solid drive here, Tampa is going to have to find a way to ketchup.”

What BS. Stan has never been "down". He hasn't had to say a thing. All the crap flying around concerning Spanos proves he's the one that is down. All the last minute changes to a horrible stadium proposal in St. Louis proves they are the ones "down".

Kroenke's position couldn't be more solid going into the Jan owners meeting. The owns said they want "certainty". Is the St. Louis financial proposal certain? Hardly. Is Carson site "certain"? Hardly. Kroenke's Inglewood stadium proposal is ready. Permits in place, His own money to build and not adking the league or public for a dime. Looks pretty "certain" to me.

The owners have said they want to do LA right, but are they really going to let one single owner block LA because he thinks its his market? Spanos gets his way and there will NEVER be a team in LA.

Spanos get's his way and I will never be a LA NFL football fan again...

One thing is sure, this thing will not end pretty.

What a crap article above from Elvis. And the exact reason why St Louis doesn't deserve a team. Tickets for Thursday nights game were available for cheap. And the writer claims the place was rocking and reminiscent of 1999?
Thursday night was a joke. A national embarrassment as a Rams fan. The place was EMPTY. And there was no crowd noise.
IMO St. Louis could have made a serious stand this year and filled that place to the rafters. That would show ownership they deserve to stay.
This idea that staying away is a positive message and that it's proving something to Kroenke is just horseshit.
Let's play devils advocate. The Rams stay in St. Louis, do the fans turn around and applaud Kroenke??

dieterbrock wrote:This idea that staying away is a positive message and that it's proving something to Kroenke is just horseshit.
Let's play devils advocate. The Rams stay in St. Louis, do the fans turn around and applaud Kroenke??

That is the one thing I don't understand the Chargers are playing far worse, but are still getting better crowds and IMHO Mark Davis does not want to leave Oakland and rename his franchise. This relocation process had made no sense whatsoever. St. Louis is the depressed market combined with the worse support, but they put together IMO a two bit stadium plan that is not going to be much better than the dome because of the weather off the river...Just don't get it.